EXCLUSIVE: Suits star Patrick J. Adams is set as the male lead opposite Zoe Saldana in NBC’s four-hour miniseries Rosemary’s Baby, an adaptation of the 1967 best-selling suspense novel by Ira Levin. Jason Isaacs also has joined the mini, directed by Agnieska Holland. It centers on Rosemary Woodhouse (Saldana), a young wife and would-be mother who, with her husband Guy (Adams), moves into a Paris apartment that has a dark past. After finally getting pregnant, she becomes increasingly suspicious that both her husband and their mysterious neighbors have ulterior motives about the future of her child. Isaacs will play warlock/coven-leader Roman Castevet, a role played by Sidney Blackmer in Roman Polanski’s 1968 feature adaptation, in which Guy was played by John Cassavetes. This marks a nice NBCUniversal crossover, with Adams — one of the hottest stars of USA Network where Suits is a flagship series — taking on a lead of an NBC project. It also marks Issacs’ return to NBC where he toplined drama Awake. (He also worked with NBC topper Bob Greenblatt on Showtime’s Brotherhood.) Filming on Rosemary’s Baby, produced by Lionsgate TV, is slated to begin shortly in Paris. Adams is with Andy Corren Management, UTA and attorney Lev Ginsburg; Isaacs with Gersh, Independent Talent Group and Silver Lining.

17 Comments

Is there something I’m missing about Adams? He just isn’t charismatic to me. Doesn’t have any screen presence. He’s just ONE of the reasons I couldn’t get into suits. As for Isaacs, yes please!

angela • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

Clearly they shot their wad on the budget by casting Zoe Saldana as Rosemary and so are reduced to dredging the shallow end of the pool for the rest. Speaking of which, has Zoe ever had a non-white romantic lead in a movie?

Anonymous • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

Jason Isaacs is a fine actor, which is more than can be said for Zoe who has yet to have anything resembling a hit (and no, Avatar was not a hit because of Zoe).

As mentioned Jason Isaacs is a fantastic classically trained actor, maybe one of the most underrated in the biz. He was great in Awake for NBC and deserved an Emmy nomination even though the show got cancelled after one season. Patrick J. Adams is pretty good too. Obviously not an A-lister but I like him on Suits and he has a bright future ahead of him. Hell, SAG thought he was one of the five best TV actors in 2011. How many actors like him can say they were in the presence of company like Bryan Cranston and Steve Buscemi?

Saldana isn’t so bad, she’s good in those ensemble roles like Avatar and Star Trek. I think she’s only really had Colombiana as a major starring vehicle and that did okay. Besides I think we’re past the point where actors are what draws audiences to movies.

Pazuzu with a Z • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

This isn’t going to be an all-black version? BORING!!!!!

Jinjeon • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

Jason Isaacs is a perfect choice. Now get Jennifer Beals for the role of Minnie Castevet.

Jinjeon • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

After a thought if they want to British with Mr. and Mrs. Castevet there’s only one answer: Jane Horrocks.

Jace • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

Why are they doing this? The original is a classic, and the novel it’s based on mediocre. I can see no point in wasting all that time and energy on something that has no chance of being a touch on Polanski’s version.

SaMoGuy • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

The Polanski version, while still interesting in terms of his use of space and Mia Farrow’s great performance, just doesn’t hold up. It’s poorly paced for modern audiences with the story’s midpoint where these days you’d be 10-15 minutes in.
There are classic films from that era that feel like they could have been yesterday (SHAMPOO) but this ain’t one of them. When put next to a dramatic horror film like THE EXORCIST, Polanski’s baby looks even worse.

innerealm • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

You are so wrong. This film holds up beautifully….

Alan B • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

Whoa, you think ‘Shampoo’ could have been made yesterday? Thats an *interesting* opinion.

Brock • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

Never heard the novel referred to as “mediocre” before. You’re in a very small minority there, but to each his own.

skeptical potato • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

So why should we believe that this will be any more successful than 666 Park Avenue? ABC or NBC, the problem is the same, broadcast is too formulaic and gutless. Meanwhile, viewers have gotten ever more jaded with stuff like American Horror Story. Anything that NBC will be allowed to show will look like Scooby Doo by comparison.

Kerry • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

Good on PJA! Very solid actor, excited for him.

ghg • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

It must be said: hello to Jason Isaacs!

G • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

Great casting! Looking forward to this!

WarriorOne • on Jan 20, 2014 12:31 pm

Either you’re a racist or stupid or both. Other that Saldana who is Latina and black, the rest of the cast is, as usual, white. Shame on you.